How to Play Baccarat

Easy Ways to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the most loved games both in land-based and online casinos. One reason is that it has a simple gameplay. Unlike other table games, baccarat does not require you to play against the dealer and think hard about what cards to play. You just have to bet on which has the better baccarat hand between the player and the banker.

If you have never played this game yet, it is better that you know how to play baccarat before you make a bet. After all, you do not want to lose your funds instantly without understanding how the game works. Get to know the mechanics of the game below.

You should know that playing baccarat does not mean you are going to hold any cards dealt. You are part of the game not as a card player or a banker but as a bettor who guesses which between the player and the banker holds the better hand. You have a better chance of winning if you happen to bet on the hand holding cards whose total value is 9. Below are three easy steps in playing baccarat.

1| Place Your Chips on Your Bet

You can wager on the player, the banker, or the tie. If you think that the player will get a hand value of 9 or place your chips on the player side. But, if you think that the banker has a bigger chance of getting a card value equivalent to 9, simply put your chips on the banker side.

But if you think that both the player and the banker will get the same value, bet on the tie. To do this, place your chips on the small box on the baccarat table, usually above the player and banker sections.

2| Wait for the Initial Cards

After you and all the other bettors have placed bets, the dealer will deal two cards for the player and two cards for the banker. Sometimes, the cards dealt face down to add thrill to the game, but there are also times when the cards given to each side face up.

3| Compute the Card Values

If either the player or the banker gets a total of 8 or 9, it is called a natural hand. If your bet earns the natural hand, you win the round, unless the rival hand also gets a natural hand.

Keep in mind that if your bet gets a total hand value of 10 or more, only the second digit will be accepted by the dealer. Say your bet gets a King and 2 of Hearts. Since the total is 12, the dealer will consider only the second digit which is 2. This means that all baccarat hands are only between 0 and 9.

4 | Watch out for Third Cards

In the event that the player gets a total card value of less than 5, the player will automatically draw another card or the third card. This additional card can help the player get a higher total than the banker.

Meanwhile, if the banker’s cards are equivalent to 0, 1, or 2, the banker will draw a third card. But if his initial cards are worth 3, 4, 5, or 6, drawing a third card will depend on the player’s action. If the player asked for another card from the dealer, then the banker holding a hand of 3, 4, 5, or 6 cannot draw a third card. But if the player decides to stand, the banker can ask for another card. Keep in mind that the maximum number of cards that the player and the banker can have is three.

Playing baccarat is easy and fun, especially with its simple gameplay. But if you think that you need to know more tips for more chances of winning the game, you can check these baccarat tips. And if you are looking for more tutorials, tips, and guides on your favorite casino games, check out HappiStar Tips today.